Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Secretaries' Files: Iran Mission

American missionary efforts in Persia commenced as early as 1829, when the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent the Reverends Eli Smith and Harrison Gray Otis Dwight to explore the regions of northwest Persia. Upon their recommendations, the American Board established a mission to the Nestorian Christians at Urumia. In 1834, the Reverend Justin Perkins, working under the auspices of the American Board, became the first missionary in Urumia, followed by Dr. and Mrs. Asahel Grant the next year.

In 1871, the PCUSA's Board of Foreign Missions assumed responsibility for the American Board's mission station at Urumia, thus formally commencing Presbyterian work in Persia. Within a decade, the Persia Mission had expanded to include new stations at Teheran (1872), Urumia (1873), Tabriz (1873) and Hamadan (1880). Due to the vast distances between the stations, the Persia Mission was divided in 1883. Urumia (renamed Rezaieh after 1925) and Tabriz were organized as the West Persia Mission, while Teheran and Hamadan constituted the East Persia Mission. The East Persia Mission was later to include the new stations of Resht and Kazvin (1906) (the latter being closed in 1918), Kermanshah (1910) and the sacred Persian city of Meshed (1911). The East and West Persia Missions were later reunited in 1931 and were known simply as the Persia, and after 1935, the Iran Mission.

From the outset, Presbyterian work in Persia was three-fold in nature: evangelical, medical and educational. Numerous local churches were organized and placed in the hands of native ministers within the central Evangelical Church of Iran. Medical work began as early as 1835 and was extended in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Formal hospitals were built in Kermanshah in 1882, in Teheran in 1890, and in Tabriz in 1913, followed by similar openings in Meshed, Hamadan, and Resht. Schools were established for the children of missionaries by the 1870s. In time, these grew into multi-national institutions such as the Alborz Foundation (Armaghan Institute), Iran Bethel (Damavand) College, the Community School of Teheran, the Mehr Jordan Schools, and later community outreach programs.